Century-old pottery industry on the verge of collapse

Pasrur is famous for producing clay made utensils that is tumbling because as many units have been closed due to lack of incentives, government support and un-resolved problems being faced by the industry since long. The previous governments had failed to resolve the problems of the industry despite their promise with small manufacturers engaged with pottery industry.
Hundred years old pottery industry of the area had become stagnant due to rapid change in life style, modernization of industrial sector and lack of proper attention of the provincial government. It was observed during the visit of Pasrur that male and female workers were found busy in making clay made utensils on roadsides just for earning bread and butter.
Small businessmen engaged with pottery industry have appealed to the Punjab government to take immediate steps for the survival and to bringing it out from multifarious problems confronting by pottery industry of Pasrur.
Muhammad Din and Akbar small manufacturers while expressing their views said that we are working on roadsides just for earning bread and butter. They said under the prevailing circumstances there was a great need of government support for infusing new blood for the revival of this historic industry adding that we are far behind as compared to other industries functioning in and around Sialkot. We have the ability and skill to compete the market if Punjab government provides incentives and land for pottery industry.
It was observed during the visit that there was a great need of establishment of "Mini Industrial Estate" in Pasrur and provision of all basic facilities under one roof should be ensured to the local businessmen engaged with various industries including pottery industry.
Besides, special steps should also be taken for tracking the pottery industry on modern and scientific production lines because at present most of small pottery units were working with the traditional techniques and were functioning on roadsides and producing the cooking utensils and decoration pieces with great skill and dexterity.
The concerned government departments should formulate a special programme for the development old industries and under the programme soft loan facilities should be given small businessmen enabling them to modernize their workplaces as well as bringing them out economic constrains.
The timely action of the Punjab government would not only prevent the pottery and other industries functioning in remote rural and backward areas but also help in modernization of the industries as well as improve the economic conditions of the artisans.
The business community engaged with pottery industry was fully capable to improve the standard and quality of its pottery manufacturing in accordance with the international standard and at present the pottery industry was fulfilling the domestic demands despite of serious hurdles and hardships by using traditional techniques.